The Province is introducing a new RCMP billing model that will strengthen police services and improve public safety across Nova Scotia.

An additional $16 million from the Province in 2026-27 and $18 million annually after that will help make communities safer and add 25 more officers across the province.

Increased provincial investments will result in savings for many municipalities. These savings must be reinvested into local public-safety priorities, such as layered policing, community safety planning, mental health and addictions response, and crime and violence prevention.

"Our government is taking action to strengthen police services and make communities safer," said Attorney General and Justice Minister Scott Armstrong. "This significant public safety investment is a major step forward in improving policing from one end of the province to the other. By taking on a greater share of the cost of policing, our government is supporting municipalities to reinvest in the local community safety initiatives they need to protect their communities."

Nova Scotia's comprehensive policing review, released in June 2025, called for six foundational changes to improve public safety, including introducing a new RCMP billing model for municipalities.

Most municipalities will see a reduction in costs and none will pay more.

The new model provides a more equitable approach to provincial policing and associated costs and will consider:

• crime severity
• geography
• population
• service demands
• community public-safety pressures.

Quotes:

"This significant provincial investment will help make our province safer by giving municipalities the flexibility to respond to local public safety needs. Every community is different, and locally driven solutions are essential to helping residents feel safe, supported and connected. We look forward to working with the Province on practical initiatives that will make a meaningful difference for residents."

Rod Gilroy, Mayor, Municipality of the County of Cumberland

Quick Facts:

• the new model takes effect in October and funding is retroactive to April 1, 2026
• there are 10 municipal police agencies in Nova Scotia; the RCMP provides policing services to all other areas, including 39 municipalities across the province
• the RCMP, the provincial police service, is responsible for policing about 80 per cent of Nova Scotia's geography and 50 per cent of its population
• progress continues on the other commitments in the comprehensive policing review, including work on a unified police records management system, which was allocated $2.6 million in Budget 2026-27
• the funding supports the Province's whole-of-government approach to achieve the systemic, operational and legislative changes outlined in the final reports of the Mass Casualty Commission and the Desmond Fatality Inquiry

Additional Resources:

Shaping the Future: Policing in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/just/Publications/docs/policing-review-shaping-future-2025-06-en.pdf